Device for inflating balloons and the like



March 7, 1944. A. w. CARLSON 2,343,275

DEVICE FOR INFLATING BALLOONS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27, 1940 PatentedMar, 7, 1944 DEVICE FOR INFLA'IING BALLOONS AND THE LIKE ArthurWQCarlson, Worcester, Mass.

Application september 27, 1940, Serial No. 358,703

1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for inflating balloons or the like,and more particularly to devices for holding gas-filled or similarcartridges to balloons and including piercing pins.

The objects of the invention include the provision of a compact,inexpensive. and efficient device to which the neck of a balloon may besecured, and which includes a means for piercing a cartridge which mayalso be held in the device; the provision of a screw threaded cartridgeadapted to cooperate with a screw threaded balloon-holding infiator,there being a pin in said infiator to pierce the cartridge; and theprovision of an inflator nozzle having a special configuration by whichthe balloon neck may be securely held while the balloon is inflated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aSectional view of an inflator embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, and showing amodification thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thru a further form of the invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates an iniiator similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing amodified nozzle;

Fig. 5 shows a still further form of the invention; and

Figs. 6 and 7 show still other modifications coming within the scope ofthe present invention.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier applicationSerial No. 242,354, filed November 25, 1938, now Patent No. 2,218,931.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an inflator comprising a nozzle Ihaving a general cone shape with convex outside walls, a balloon being,attachable by its neck to this nozzle, as shown in Fig. 1 of myabove-mentioned application. The nozzle 1 has a passage 2 extending fromthe pointed nose 3 of the nozzle to the bottom of an axial recess 4 atthe opposite end of the inflator. This recess is interiorly screwthreaded as at 5, and a solid piercing pin 5 is embedded or press fittedinto the bottom of the recess. A cartridge I, which is adapted to befilled with liquid C: or compressed gases, has a reduced neck portion Iwhich is exteriorly screw threaded as at 9 to cooperate with the screwthreads on the inflator.

It will be clear that when a balloon neck is stretched over the nozzle Iand the cartridge 1 is rotated so as to screw into the inflator, the pin6 will pierce th cartridge and allow the escaping gases to pass thru thepassage 2 into the balloon.

Fig. 2 illustrates an inflator generally similar to that shown in Fig.1, but in'this case a relatively large diameter pin Ill extends thru thenozzle ll into a recess [2 similar to the recess 4. The pin l0 has apiercing point l3 at its inner end.

Fig. 3 illustrates a casing l4 having a closed end l5 and exterior screwthreads at its open end as at It. The conical nozzle I1 is shaped withan annular groove l8 into which the neck of the balloon may be rolled tobe securely held. This nozzle has screw threads to cooperate with thescrew threads l6 so that as the casing I4 is turned relatively to thenozzle ll, a cartridge contained within the casing will be advanced intocontact with the piercing pin IS. The piercing pin is press fitted intothe nozzle I! and a passage 20 extends therethru and thru the nozzle soas to provide a path for the escaping gas into the balloon. Casing I4 isprovided with longitudinal flutes or ribs 2| to aid in turning it.

The construction as shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1and 2 except that the nozzle 22 is provided with the annular groove llas in Fig. 3 and the piercing pin 23 is press fitted into the nozzle 22as described above as to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 discloses a cartridge I having a reduced screw threaded neck 8like that in Fig. 1. In this case, the inflator assumes a roundcylindrical shape as at 24 and an annular groove 25 is formed in theouter surface of this inflator for the reception of the neck 26 of theballon 21. The inflator is centrally screw threaded to admit the neck ofthe cartriike and extending from such screw threads there are twopassages 28 for the passage of the gas from the cartridge. The twopassages 28 form an island 29 therebetween, this element being integralwith the inflator 24. Centrally of the island 29. there is a piercingpin 30 extending inwardly of the inflator as shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 6, there is disclosed an open holder it having an upstandingscrew threaded lug 32 at its rear end and another upstanding lug 33 atits forward end. The lug 33 is formed with a grooved nozzle 34 having arecess 35 for slidably receiving the neck 36 of the cartridge 31. Screwthreaded handle 38 cooperates with the screw threaded lug 32 to advancethe cartridge 31 to be pierced by the pin 39 in the recess 35.

Fig. 7 illustrates a holder 40 having at its rear end a cup-shapedelement U to fit the base of 5, a mere turning of the cartridge relativeto the inflator will cause an advance oi the cartridge into engagementwith the piercing pins so that the cartridge will be pierced and theresulting gases will flow thru the respective passages into balloons tobe filled.

, 2,848,276 the cartridge 42. At its forward end, the holder Having thusdescribed my invention and the advgtages thereof, I do not wish to belimited to e details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set mm: in theclaim, but what I claim is:

In a device or the class described, the combination oi a gas cartridgehaving a threaded end with a member for piercing the cartridge, saidmember comprising a hollow body interiorly threaded tor cooperativeengagement with the threaded end of the cartridge, 9. pin fixed in saidbody, a passage leading from adjacent the pin to an exterior surface ofthe body, the exte'rior of said body being conical in part and having awide base for the cone, a relatively deep annular balloon-mouthreceiving depression at the base oi. the cone, being cylindrical.

' ARTHUR -W. CARLSON.

the remainder of the body

